Switch



R E Y A M m E T S G A SWITCH Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G.STEINMAYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UN D", S

Patented a. 3, 1933 SWITCH Alwin G. Steinmayer, Milwaukee, Wis.,assignor,

by mesne assignments, to' Line Material Company, South Milwaukee, Wis.,a corporation of Delaware Application March 5, 1928. Serial No. 259,289

res PATENT orries 8 Claims.

. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inswitches and refers more particularly to that type of switch especiallydesigned for use in connection with high tension current. A generalobject of this invention is to improve the construction and operation ofswitches of the character described whereby their operation is hoodfoutof its path during movement, to an en-' gaging and disengaging position.

.A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a switchof the character described in which a sleet hood covers the movablecontact 29 while the same is in its disengaged position.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision'ofan improved switch of the character described in which the constructionof the arcing horns is improved.

With the above and other objects in view whic will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly de fined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may bemade as comewithin the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated as one complete exampleof the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the switch unit embodying my invention, partsthereof being broken away and in section; b

FigureZ is a view, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2 -2,a portion of the sleet hood being broken away; P 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the stationary contact and movableswitch blade illustrating the position of the sleet hood and the meansfor raising the same out of the path of the blade; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken through Figure 3 on the plane of theline 4-4.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 5 designates a transverse beam, or support of the customaryframework upon which switches of this character are mounted. The switchmay be arranged in units of one or more to be operated simultaneouslyand inasmuch as all units are-identical, but one has been shown in thedrawings.

Fixedto the beam Sadjacent one end is. a.

bracket member 6 which has a flanged surface 7 inclined inwardlyto-receive the flanged face 8 of an insulator support 9 which isboltedthereto to mount a suitable insulator 10, the outer end of which has astationary contact 11 fixed thereto;

Thestationary contact 11 includes an approxi-, I

matelytriangularly shaped bracket member 12, one side of which isformedwith'a flange 13 by which it is secured tothe upper end of theinsulator by bolts .or other means 14. The longest side 15 of-thetriangle shaped bracket member, has one blade or clip- 16 of the contactproper secured theretoby bolts 17 whichv also pass through a terminalmember 18 electrically connected with the end of a line 19, and extendedfrom the apex of sides 13 and 15 is an arm 20,

the outer end of which is provided with means including a clamping plate20, for mechanically anchoring the line 19 to the bracket member torelieve'the terminal of all strain. The thirdside of the bracketmemberis provided with a grooved flange 21, to receiveithe laterallydirected ends of an arcing horn 22, to be later described, the ends ofthe horn being clamped thereto by a plate 23.

Secured to. the side 15 of the bracket member adjacent the blade 16 is arecessed member 24, in which a floating or yieldable clip 25 is mountedto be yieldably urged towards the blade 16, and with it forms thestationary contact of the switch, the ends of the blade and clip beingflared to facilitate the entrance therebetweenof the movable contactblade 26.

The movable contact blade 26 is mounted on an insulator 27 of anysuitable construction by a pair of spaced standards,lugs, or ears 28formed on a flange 29 which is'suitably secured to the insulator, beingmounted between the lugs 28by a pivot bolt 30 and a stud 31. Theopenings 32 in the blade through which the bolt and stud pass are ofincreased diameter which permits a limited swinging movement oftheswitch blade with respect to its insulator mounting whereby ashearing action takes place between the blade and the stationary contactmembers in the event they become mechanically frozen. The flange isadjustably secured therein by clamping plates 35 and which has itsmedial portion bent to substantially hairpin shape and extendedforwardly to cooperate with the arcing horn 22 of the stationarycontact.

The insulator 27 is mounted on a support 36 similar to the support 9which is fixed to a bracket 37 mounted on a rotatable shaft 38 journaledin bearings 39 carried by the beam 5. The shaft 38 is rotated by a crankarm 40 fixed thereto and to the end of which an operating rod 41 isconnected, the other end of the rod 41 being con nected with a suitableactuating mechanism,-not shown. Limit screws 42 define the travel of theshaft and are threaded in lugs 43 formed on the bearing 39, the screws42 engaging the bracket 37 at either of its limits of movement.

The switch blade is connected with the other line 44 through a ribbonconductor 45 one end of which is clamped between a laterally extendedportion 46 carried by the blade 26 and a member 47,. the inner ends-ofwhich are secured together by bolts 48. The other end of the ribbon isclamped between a member 49 and an anchor member 50, the anchor member50 being positioned on the upper end of an insulator 51 mounted on asupport 52 secured to theibeam 5. The end of the ribbon 45. extendsoutwardly of the member 49 and has its outer end impinged between theanchor member 50 and a terminal 53 electrically connected with theadjacent end of the line 44, and clamping means 54 mechanically anchorsthe line 44 to the member 50 in a manner similar to the means foranchoring the line 19 to the bracket member 12.- In this manner the lineis directly connected with the switch blade 26 and any possibility oftrouble such as would beencountered where a frictional joint is reliedupon to carry current is eliminated, the ribbon 46 is loose andissupported against coming into contact with the parts of the switch bya toggle arrangement best illustrated in Fig ure l.

The flange 29 and the anchor member 50 have their adjacent ends providedwith apertured lugs 55 to which outer ends of levers 56 and 57 areconnected by pivots 58 and 59, respectively, the inner ends of thelevers being pivotally connected by a pin 60. Each lever is formed of apair of links held in spaced relation by'the apertured lugs 55 and bysuitable bushings, 60', mounted on the pivot pin 60 and cross bolts 61being supported thereby so that when the switch is in either positionthe ribbon is held from coming in contact with any portion of the switchwhich may ground the same.

The levers 56 and 57 are of a length so that their pivot-60 never fallsbelow an imaginary line drawn through the pivots 58 and 59 and as theinsulator mounting for the switch blade 26 is swung to the left withreference to- Figure 1, breaking the continuity of the circuit from oneline to the other, the levers 56 and 57 assume the dotted line positionsillustrated.

It has been found that where switches of this character were providedwith the usual type of arcing horns, that is, one end of which beingsecured to the mounting member and the other end terminating in thehorn, crystallization at their mounting has very often caused them tofail and to obviate this and provide a more rigid construction both endsthereof are secured to the mounting member. The horn 34 has beendescribed as being substantially hairpin shape with its ends directedlaterally and secured to its mounting member, one longitudinal leg 62thereof being positioned inwardly of the other leg to cooperate with asubstantially transversely directed portion 63 of the horn 22. The horn22 is medially bent upon itself to provide a straight leg 64 the end ofwhich is directed laterally to be clamped to its mounting member asdescribed and the other leg 65 extends downwardly'forming an acute anglewith the leg 64 for a distance substantially equal to half the length ofthe leg 64 and then being directed transversely to form the portion 63,from the end of which it is directed back towards the leg 64, as at 66,and then downwardly, as at 67, to have its end also directed laterallyin parallel relation with the end of the leg 64 to be likewise clampedto the mounting member.

vThe horns 22 and 34 are so positioned with respect to each other thatthe leg 62 of the horn 22 extends inwardly of the plane of the portion63 so that asthe switch is moved from one position to the other, theengagement therebetween will be positive due to the resiliency of thehorns.

However, thetransverse portion 63, which is straight except at itsextreme ends, is of such lengththat the leg 62 of the movable horn 34 ispositively engaged therewith under spring tension only during theengagement and disengagement of the contacts. 'When the switch is fullyopen the arcing horns are obviously entirely disengaged and when theswitch is completely closed the leg 62 of the movable arcing horn movesoff of a straight part of the transverse portion 63 so as to relieve thetension between the arcing horns.

The advantage of having the tension between thearcing horns relieved atsuch times except when they actually perform the function for which theyare intended is obvious, for they are then free from strain and retaintheir resiliency indefinitely. Consequently the horns. may be formed ofordinary steel whereas arcing horns which are normally under tensionnecessitate an expensive material such as bronze or the like.

A sleet hood 68 is pivotally mounted from the stationary contact tosustantially cover the contacts when the same are enaged and ispivotally supported by a pivotrod 69-mounted in the legs of a U-shapedmember '70 which is secured to the side 15 of the triangular shapedbracket member 12 by screws 71 or the like and is yieldably urged to aposition covering the contacts by a coil spring '72 coiled about the rod69 and having one end abutting the transverse portion of the member andits other end extended to .engage the inner surface of the sleet hoodoutwardly of its pivotal connection.

The sleet hood consists of a substantially box shaped member having atop, side walls and end walls connecting the same, the lower edge of theside walls being curved as at '73, one of which being engaged by amember 74 to raise the hood out. of the path of the movable contactblade 26 as it moves to engagement with the clips forming the stationarycontact.

The member '74 is suitably formed of bendable metal and has an inner arm'75 extended at an angle to its arm 76, the outer end of which ispreferably rounded to engage the edge 73 of the sleet hood and issecured by its arm '75 to a flange '77 extended from one of theprojections of lugs 28by cap screws 78. A second hood 79 carried by thelever 56 adjacent its pivotal connection 60 substantially covers themovable blade 26 when the same is moved to its disengaging position, asshown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of this character apertains that I providean improved switch construction in which the failure of the arcing hornsdue to crystallization at their points of support is greatly minimizedand in which the contacts are protected against the elements both intheir contact making position and while the switch is in its openposition. I

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electric switch comprising a stationary contact, a movablecontact, a terminal member having a line secured thereto, conductormeans electrically connecting the terminal member with the movablecontact, link means connecting the terminal member and the movablecontact, and supporting the conductor means, means for actuating themovable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact,a sleet hood covering both contacts when engaged and a second sleet hoodcarried by the link means and covering the movable contact when the sameis moved from the stationary one.

2. In an electric switch comprising a stationary contact, a movablecontact, means for actuating the movable contact into and out ofengagement with the stationary contact to close and open the switch,line conductors, means connecting one line conductor with the stationarycontact, means connecting the other line conductor with the movablecontact, anchoring means for the latter line conductor, pivotallyconnected link members connected with the anchoring means and themovable contact to support the means connecting the movable contact withits line conductor, a sleet hood carried by the stationary contact andcovering both contacts whenengaged, and a second sleet hood carriedbyone of said link members to move over the movable contact as theswitch is opened.

3. In 'a switch, a contact, a switch member movable to and fromengagement with said contact, a protecting hood covering the contact andswitch member when engaged, a second protecting hood, and means mountingthe second protecting hood whereby it is positioned remote from theswitch member when the same is engaged with the. contact andflcovers theswitch member when the same is moved to its fully open position. I

4. In a switch, a stationary contact, a switch member movable to andfrom closed position and engaging the stationary contact when in saidclosed position, a protecting hood at all times disposed over thestationary contact and protecting the movable'switch member when thesame is inclosedfposition, a second protecting hood remote from themovable switch member when the same is in closed position, and meansmovably mounting the second protecting hood whereby it moves over themovable switch member as the same is moved to its fully open position.

5. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a secondcontact, one of said contacts being mounted on a fixed axis andpivotally movable relative'to the other said contact, a sleet hoodmounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallelto said fixed axis, said hood having a portion thereofoverlying saidsecond contact when said contacts are engaged, and means on said secondcontact engageable with a portion of said hood to raise said overlyingportion during engagement and disengagement of said contacts.

6. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a secondcontact, one of said con tacts being mounted on a fixed axis andpivotally movable relative to the other said contact, a sleet hoodmounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallelto said fixed axis, said hood having a portion thereof overlying saidsecond contact when said contacts are engaged, a cam surface on saidhood, and a cam follower on said second contact engageable with said camsm'face to effect vertical movement of the overlying portion of saidhood during engagement and disengagement of said contacts.

'7. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a secondcontact, one of said contacts being mounted on a fixed axis andpivotally movable relative to the other said contact, a sleet hoodmounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallelto said fixed axis,

said hood having a portion thereof overlying said contacts, an arcinghorn mounted on the opposite side of said switch from said first arcinghorn and having a substantially radial contacting surface relative tosaid axis, said contacting portions being engageable during opening andclosing of said switch for the purpose set forth.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

